Basketball Recap: Gabriel Valencia's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Pacific Grove over Carmel

Pacific Grove was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They lost to the Carmel Padres on the road by a 51-35 margin. While losing is never fun, the Breakers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California basketball rankings (they are ranked 487th, while the Padres are ranked 231st).

Several Breakers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Gabriel Valencia, who went 5 of 9 en route to 11 points and eight rebounds. Andrew Nimri was another key player, putting up 11 points.

Simeon Brown continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines for Carmel, going 6 for 12 on his way to 16 points and six steals. That's the most steals Brown has posted since back in January of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Brooklyn Ashe, who posted seven points along with 13 boards and three steals.

Pacific Grove's loss dropped their record down to 6-6. As for Carmel, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 6-5.

Pacific Grove has already played their next contest, a 60-38 victory against Everett Alvarez on the 15th. As for Carmel, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next match, a 62-54 win against Monterey on the 15th.